Community Futures Development Corporation of the Central Okanagan (CFDCCO) honored Ched Gaglardi of Beelineweb.com in Lake Country at the 2024 CFDCCO AGM held on August 28, 2024 at Okanagan Table.
Ched has provided strong leadership and advocacy to Community Futures for over 20 years. Honorary Membership in the CFDCCO recognizes the valuable contribution to the Board, Self Employment Committee, Loans Committee and economic development leadership in the Central Okanagan. Ched's entrepreneurial spirit, balanced decision making, strong communication and relationship skills exemplify the characteristics of a true leader.
CFDCCO also is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors for 2024-2025 is comprised of:
A one-year paid internship will begin October 1, 2024 at Community Futures Development Corporation of Central Okanagan (CFDCCO). The candidate will have graduated within past 3 years from a University or College Program directly related to Sustainable Development and is looking to gain valuable job experience in this field and begin to build their career and the capacity of the CFDCCO in sustainable development.
CFDCCO is a community based organization that contributes to the social and economic well being of the Central Okanagan by providing CED (Community Economic Development) project development and management, support to community projects, small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs tailored to their individual needs.
CFDCCO key priorities include local food production and food security, clean tech, environment and health, wellness and inclusiveness. These priorities help set the direction of our CED focused sustainable development work. Our communities use the principles and goals of CED, adopt a good planning process and choose appropriate strategies to achieve the goals of CED. This means that community development, economic development and environmental sustainability are not left to chance but are directed by the people who live and work in the community.
Specific job duties and skills of the Internship include:
people skills – working with a variety of individuals and organizations in the community, negotiating, developing partnerships and networking
communication skills – listening skills, empathy, developing and delivering public presentations, public and media relations, developing communications plan
technical expertise – knowledge of the community economic development process, ESG, skills in research, planning, facilitation, project development and project management, benchmarking, statistics
planning expertise – knowledge and experience with strategic plans and municipal plans
marketing abilities – developing and implementing marketing and raising funds through grant writing and collaboration with other organizations and key people
Interested parties are asked to email their letter of interest and resume to Larry Widmer, General Manager, CFDCCO This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
A new indoor playground, Play Area, has opened its doors in Kelowna, providing families with a way to beat the summer heat.
Located on Enterprise Way, the new family-run business offers fun and educational activities for kids aged 10 and under.
"Every parent is looking for a place for their kids to go to blow off steam, but they are also looking for opportunities for kids to learn while they are doing it," said owner Gavin Dew.
"At Play Area, we have lots of ways for kids to learn about water and air pressure, working with their hands, and sensory play."
The Dews are originally from Vancouver and moved to Kelowna, quickly realizing more options for places for kids to play were needed in the city.
"We needed to do something for families and moms who just need somewhere to hang out and have a cup of coffee without worrying about where our kids are hiding. With Play Area, we have a really great sight line," said co-founder and operator Erin Dew.
Play Area officially opened two weeks ago and has already been busy.
"We are already seeing a lot of people coming in, but we wanted to start spreading the word," Gavin Dew added.
Families can learn more about Play Area by visiting www.playarea.ca or by stopping by between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
GreenStep, in collaboration with The City of Kelowna, have launched GreenStep Certified to help businesses go green and reduce costs.
Program Highlights:
Free online self-assessment and expert review
Personalized coaching and action plan for quick-win carbon reduction
Certification logo, marketing toolkit, and credibility enhancement
With support from FortisBC, the first 50 businesses that sign-up will receive $500 in savings on their first year of Certification fees! Use the code GSCFortis500 at checkout to automatically apply the discount.
